Glass Menagerie-escape From Reality
Question: Amanda tells Tom that he lives in dream world and manufactures illusions. To what extent do Amanda, Tom and Laura try to escape an unpleasant reality? Escape is a very real aspect of the Wingfield family. The first escapee was Mr.Wingfield, the man in the picture. He left the family sixteen years ago and has sent only one very brief post card since then. He made his escape as Tom does by going to the movies, as Laura does through her glass menagerie and victrola records, and as Amanda does through her memories of Blue Mountain. Mr.Wingfield is the ultimate symbol of escape. The reality of their lives is so depressing and tedious that each must find a way to escape from their unpleasant reality.
Amanda is desperately searching for a way to save Laura from becoming a dependant "old maid". Amanda knows that this kind of life is lonely and miserable, and she tries to give Laura the means to escape this fate by having her take typing classes so that she may later support herself. Laura drops out of the class, and Amanda has to find another escape route for her daughter; her ambitions turn to finding a male suitor for her daughter.
To escape from reality Amanda lives in the past. She constantly reminisces about her days in Blue Mountain and her seventeen gentleman callers per day. Amanda's life had the potential to become great but she unfortunately met "a telephone man who fell in love with long distances".
Tom goes to the movies to escape the drab life he leads as a warehouse worker living with his mother and sister. He hates his life and feels trapped. He gets no recognition or appreciation from Amanda for the sacrifices he feels he makes to support the family. He could choose to abandon them like his father had, and find the adventure he lusts after which is what he will eventually do.
After seeing the Magician escape from a coffin without removing a nail, Tom is very impressed, and he believes it parallels his situation at home. He has to find some way
Amanda is desperately searching for a way to save Laura from becoming a dependant "old maid". Amanda knows that this kind of life is lonely and miserable, and she tries to give Laura the means to escape this fate by having her take typing classes so that she may later support herself. Laura drops out of the class, and Amanda has to find another escape route for her daughter; her ambitions turn to finding a male suitor for her daughter.
To escape from reality Amanda lives in the past. She constantly reminisces about her days in Blue Mountain and her seventeen gentleman callers per day. Amanda's life had the potential to become great but she unfortunately met "a telephone man who fell in love with long distances".
Tom goes to the movies to escape the drab life he leads as a warehouse worker living with his mother and sister. He hates his life and feels trapped. He gets no recognition or appreciation from Amanda for the sacrifices he feels he makes to support the family. He could choose to abandon them like his father had, and find the adventure he lusts after which is what he will eventually do.
After seeing the Magician escape from a coffin without removing a nail, Tom is very impressed, and he believes it parallels his situation at home. He has to find some way